Hartford startup accelerator Upward Labs announced a new cohort of nine tech companies focused on building technology and senior care.
The companies will begin the six-month program on Sept. 1, and Upward Labs is planning to host the cohort in-person “in adherence with state and local travel laws.”
This cohort is the second-to-last of the two-year accelerator program, Upward CEO Shana Schlossberg said. Upward Labs, which selected its first cohort last year, was backed by a $3.9 million investment from the state’s quasi-public venture arm, Connecticut Innovations.
Companies selected for the most recent cohort make products that address issues like social isolation and indoor air quality, which have been exacerbated by COVID-19, Schlossberg said.
“These startups will be instrumental in alleviating burdened senior living facility workers, isolated seniors, property owners and managers, and other members of our community,” Schlossberg said.
Companies selected for Upward Labs’ latest cohort include:
- CareClever, the European Union-based developer of Cutii, a companion robot designed to address social isolation in vulnerable seniors.Â
- CleanAir.AI, an air purification technology company.
- DjinnSensor, a London-based IoT company focused on smart buildings.
- HeyHerbie, a Denver-based TV-based platform that connects older adults with their loved ones.
- Hibernate, a non-wearable, mobile, and Bluetooth-enabled sleep technology company.
- ImagineX, which uses technology to help companies increase their sales.
- KomfortIQ, a Los Angeles-based company focused on energy conservation in buildings.
- OVAL Digital, a New York-based home monitoring technology company.
- Unifi.ID, a London-based company that uses technology to track movement in buildings.
